Ford partners with BP to create efficiency scheme

Four fleets have signed up to a new efficiency programme that promises to reduce vehicle wholelife costs by thousands of pounds.

The Ford Fleet Efficiency programme, developed in partnership with BP, intends to help fleets reduce CO2 emissions and wholelife costs, offset carbon output at competitive terms and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability by focusing n driver skills, vehicle efficiency and environmental performance.

The initiative measures driver efficiency and flags up poor performers via BP’s FuelExpert software and fuel card. Data from one of the fleets showed the spread of fuel consumption from different drivers of the same model was 32mpg to 64mpg.
Ford reckons measuring driver performance can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 5%. Changing driver behaviour through training can add a further 25% reduction, while correct maintenance and use of recommended lubricants can shave another 5% off the fuel bill.

Added to this are recommendations of lower CO2 cars, while BP’s not-for-profit carbon offsetting scheme helps fleets to display their environmental credentials.
BP claims its programme is around 40% cheaper than equivalent schemes, costing around £5.46 per tonne to offset with no consultancy fees.

Companies wishing to sign up to the Fleet Efficiency programme must have Ford vehicles on their fleet and have to sign up to BP FuelExpert and fuelcard. However, the system can measure any model and any fuelcard to provide a complete fleet analysis.

“One of our fleet customers has saved more than 20% since joined the scheme last year,” said Miles Maiklen, b2b operations manager for Ford European fleet sales.

“We hope it will deepen our relationship with fleets as well as attract new customers. It’s a modular programme so they can implement the elements that are most relevant. And it’s an opportunity for them to take specific actions, as fuel prices rise, and to measure the impact of those actions.”